SADC DECLARATION ON TERRORISM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 000076

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC PTER SADC MZ
SUBJECT: SADC DECLARATION ON TERRORISM

FOLLOWING IS THE SADC DECLARATION ON TERRORISM ADOPTED
ON AT THE BLANTYRE EXTRAORDINARY SUMMIT ON JANUARY 14.
THE DECLARATION IS TO BE SIGNED BY HEADS OF STATE OR
GOVERNMENT AT THE NEXT SADC SUMMIT IN FEBRUARY.

BEGIN TEXT

WE, THE HEADS OF STATE OR GOVERNMENT OF

THE REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA
THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA
THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO
THE REPUBLIC OF MALAWI
THE REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS
THE REPUBLIC OF MOZAMBIQUE
THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA
THE REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES
THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
THE KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND
THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA
THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE

CONCERNED WITH NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE, SOVEREIGNTY AND
TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AS WELL AS THE SOCIAL AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WITH THE STABILITY AND
SECURITY OF ALL SADC MEMBER STATES;

CONSCIOUS THAT HARMONIOUS COOPERATION IN THE AFRICAN
CONTINENT AND IN THE REGION IN PARTICULAR, BASED ON
THE PRINCIPLES THAT GUIDE THE AFRICAN UNION CAN ONLY
BE ACHIEVED IN CONDITIONS OF PEACE AND IN A CLIMATE O
POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC STABILITY;

CONSIDERING THAT THREATS AND ACTS OF TERRORISM IN THE
REGION, THE AFRICAN CONTINENT AND THE WORLD HAVE
PROMPTED THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO STRENGTHEN THE
MECHANISMS FOR PREVENTING AND COMBATING ALL FORMS OF
TERRORISM;

CONSIDERING FURTHER THAT TERRORISM CONSTITUTES AN
IMPEDIMENT TO THE FULL ENJOYMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
AND FREEDOMS OF HUMANKIND;

CONSCIOUS OF THE IMPERATIVE NEED TO PROTECT HUMAN
RIGHTS AND INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES IN CONFORMITY WITH THE
PRINCIPLES ENSHRINED IN INTERNATIONAL LEGAL
INSTRUMENTS, IN PARTICULAR THE RIGHT TO LIFE;

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT RESOLUTIONS 55/158 OR UN GENERAL
ASSEMBLY AND 1269 (1999) AND 1373 (2001) OF THE UN
SECURITY COUNCIL THAT QUALIFY ACTS OF TERRORISM AS A
THREAT TO INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY AND WHICH
URGE MEMBER STATES TO STRENGTHEN COOPERATION BETWEEN
THE UN AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE PREVENTION
OF TERRORISM IN ALL ITS FORMS AND MANIFESTATIONS;

CONSIDERING THE OAU CONVENTION ON THE PREVENTION AND
COMBATING OF TERRORISM, ADOPTED AT THE ALGIERS SUMMIT
ON 14TH JULY, 1999;

CONDEMN ALL ACTS OF TERRORISM WHEREVER THEY OCCUR AND,
THEREFORE, UNDERTAKE TO:


1. ACCEDE OR RATIFY INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS ON
COMBATING TERRORISM, ADOPTED BY THE OAU AND THE UNITED
NATIONS AND INCORPORATE THEM INTO DOMESTIC LAWS;


2. FIGHT WITH ALL MEANS AT OUR DISPOSAL ALL FORMS OF
TERRORISM THAT ENDANGER THE LIVES OF INNOCENT
CIVILIANS, DISRUPT REGIONAL SECURITY, STABILITY AND
THE CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER OF STATES;


3. COOPERATE AT ALL LEVELS IN THE EXCHANGE OF
INFORMATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF PERSONS,
INSTITUTIONS AND NETWORKS ASSOCIATED WITH TERRORISM;


4. URGE MEMBER STATES TO CREATE, STRENGTHEN AND
HARMONIZE LEGAL INSTRUMENTS FOR THE PROSECUTION OF
GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN TERRORISM;


5. PREVENT SADC MEMBER STATES FROM BEING USED AS
BASES OR SUPPORT CENTERS FOR GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS
INVOLVED IN TERRORIST ACTIVITIES;


6. APPEAL TO COOPERATING PARTNERS FOR FINANCIAL,
TECHNICAL, AND HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
TO SADC MEMBER STATES TO ENABLE THEM TO EFFECTIVELY
COMBAT TERRORISM.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, WE THE HEADS OF THE STATE OR
GOVERNMENT, OR OUR DULY AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES,
HAVE SIGNED THIS DECLARATION.

DONE AT BLANTYRE ON THIS 14TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2002, IN
THREE (3) ORIGINALS, IN THE ENGLISH, FRENCH, AND
PORTUGUESE LANGUAGES, ALL TEXTS BEING EQUALLY
AUTHENTIC.

END TEXT.

WILKINSON